Rocking display device

ABSTRACT

A device such as for use in an advertising display intended to be hung and rocked to attract the attention of a viewer. The device includes a self-contained power supply permitting the device to be installed independently of electrical outlet means.

United States Patent Schoenung 1 1 Dec. 26, 1972 [s41 ROCKING DISPLAY DEVICE 1,195,171 8/1916 Bacon eta1.... .....40/12s x 3,231,995 2/1966 Anthony. ....40/33 X [72] inventor. AloisESchoenung, Naperv1l1e,11l. 257691264 "/1956 Niblick 40/51. X [73] Assignee: Rapid Mountain and Finishing Com- 3,422,568 /1969 Vorves 46/74 x 3,419,272 12/1968 Miller et al. ..40/51 x 221 Filed: Nov. 27, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPL1CAT1ONS [21] Appl. No.: 93,263 1,027,43 s 4/1966 Great Britain ..40/128 4 Primary Examiner-Robert-W. Michell [52] US. Cl. ..40/30, 40/ 128 40/ 139 Assistant Examiner kichard Carter [51] 1nt.Cl ..G09i 11/00 Anon"? re" we Allen Stellman & [58] Field of Search ..40/30, 33,128, 39, 218, 139, C d y g g [56] References Cited [57] J ABSTRACT A device such as for use in an advertising display in- UNITED STATES PATENTS tended to be hung and rocked to attractthe attention 3,214,854 11/1965 Swan of a viewer. The device includes a self-contained 3,375,600 4/1968 Poulos 5 power supply permitting the device to be installed in- 1 3,174,243 3/1965 Gree dependently of electrical outlet means.

882,245 3/1908 Gibson 3,031,784 5/1962 Stein ..40/33 X 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED W325 3,707,050

ROCKING DISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 1 This invention relates to display devices, and in particular to moving display devices such as for use in advertising.

2. Description of the'Prior Art In devices such as for use in advertising displays, means may be provided for effecting an oscillating or reciprocating movement. In one form of such a reciprocating device, the displays are moved back and forth on a fixed drive. In another form of such advertising display device, a plurality of elements arerotated relative to each other by wheel drive means. In other moving display devices, coacting crown and spur gears are provided to drive links back and forth to provide a reciprocating movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved rocking display device which is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing an improved rocking movement having a highly desirable aesthetic display effect suitable such as for use in advertising. The device may comprise a representation of the article advertised, such as a can of beer, which is swung in a rocking manner from an upper support to attract the attention of the viewer in an improved manner. Control of the rocking action is readily effected by suitable control of the parameters of the device so as to provide a variable rocking effect as desired.

The device may include self-contained power supply means obviating the need for provision of electrical wire supplies thereby providing improved universality in the mountability of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a rocking display device embodying the invention with the device shown in extreme rocked positions in full and dotted lines, respectively; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diametric section thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as dis-- closed in the drawing, a rocking display device generally designated is shown to comprise a carrier 11 supported by a suitable element such as cord 12 for reciprocating rocking movement. As shown in FIG. 1, carrier 11 may comprise an outer element which may have any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape corresponding to a cylindrical product to be advertised. Thus, the device may represent an enlarged can, such as a can of beer. As shown in FIG. 1, mechanism generally designated 13 is provided within carrier 1 1 to effect the rocking movement. I

Turning now to FIG. 2, mechanism 13 is shown in greater detail to include a drive motor 14 carried on a cross member 15, herein comprising a disc, secured to In: l

a tubular wall carrier. Motor 14 includes a downwardly extending drive shaft 16 which carries at its lower end an arm 17 provided at its distal end with a weight 18. Motor 14 may be driven by a suitable self-contained power supply generally designated 19, which may include a pair of dry cell batteries 20.

Cross member 15 further is provided with a. pair of upstanding connectors 21 at diametrically opposite sides of the vertical axis 22 of the carrier 11. ,A hanger generally designated 23 includes as its upper portion cord 12 and'as its lower portion a pair of wires 24 and 25. The wires are joined at their upper ends to a connection 26 with the lower end of cord 12. The wires extend equiangularly downwardly from connection 26 with the'lower end of wire '24 extending through an aperture 27 of one connector 21 and the lower end of wire 25 extending throughan aperture 28 of the other connector 21. Wires 24 and 25 may comprise a single wire bent at apex 31 for defining the connection 26 and the lower ends of the wires may comprise turned ends 32 for facilitated installation in association with connectors 21. The connector apertures 27 and 28 define a vertical plane in which wires 24 and 25 lie when the carrier 11 is in a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, connection 26 effectively defines a third axis 30 extending horizontally perpendicular to the plane of wires 24 and 25 and axis 29.

Carrier 11 and cross member 15 may comprise cardboard elements for effectively minimum weight. The elements may be secured together by any suitable means including scores and tabs, adhesives, etc. The specific method of retaining the elements in association forms no part of the invention.

In operation, the motor 14 is constantly operated by batteries 20 so as to rotate shaft 16 and thereby swing weight 18 about the axis 22 thereby to provide a variable center of gravity of the device. Whenever weight 18 is to one side or the other of the vertical plane of axes 22 and 29, the carrier rocks to permit the weight to move downwardly in a swinging movement about axis 29. The vectorial component of the weight movement extending parallel to the axis 29 causes a small swing of the carrier about the horizontal axis 30. The specific movement of the carrier is controlled by a number of parameters of the device including the moment of inertia of the entire system, the speed of motor 14, the magnitude of weight 18, the length of arm 17, the length of shaft 16, the position of axis 29 relative to the center of gravity of the device, etc. Because of the relatively rigid nature of wires 24 and 25, the rocking motion provided in device 10 is primarily to and fro about the axis 29 with the rocking about axis 30 being substantially less. As the entire device may be relatively light, very little energy is necessary to effect the desired rocking and, thus, the device may be operated for long periods of time by use of inexpensive batteries 20.

The device may be provided in compact flat form with the carrier formed to have the desired tubular configuration and the elements secured suitably by simple assembly steps. Thus, the device is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing an improved highly aesthetic novel display effect providing an improved attention-attraction means. Thus, the device is particularly well adapted for use in advertising commercial products and the like although it may be used wherever the improved rocking action is desirable in such a display.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention. I claim: l A rocking display device comprising: a carrier; laterally spaced first and second connecting means carried by the carrier; g hanger means having a first lower portion connected to said first connecting means and a second lower portion connected to said second connecting means for hanging said carrier for free rocking movement about an axis through said connecting means; a weight, and means movably mounting said weight on said carrier to be disposed seriatim to opposite sides of a vertical plane defined by said axis thereby to rock the carrierabout said axis. 2. The display device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for swinging said weight about an axis substantially perpendicular to said connecting means axis.

3. The display device of claim 1 .wherein said hanger includes an upper connecting portion, said first and second lower portions having upper ends connected thereto.

4. The display device of claim 1 wherein said hanger includes a further upper connection portion, said first and second lower portions being rigid and having upper ends connected thereto.

5. The display device of claim 1 wherein said weight is disposed below said axis.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein said hanger includes means responsive to movement of said weight seriatim to extreme positions spaced in a direction parallel to said axis to cause said carrier to rock further about a second axis perpendicular to said connecting means axis. I

7. A rocking display device comprising: a hollow carrier defining a vertical, first axis; first and second connecting means carried by said'carrier to be diametrically oppositely spaced from said axis; hanger means 4 having a first elongated element connected to said first connecting means and extending upwardly therefrom, and a second elongated element connected to said second connecting means and extending upwardly therefrom for hanging said carrier for free rocking movement about a substantially horizontal, second axis through said connecting means; a weight; and means movably mounting said weight to said carrier for revolving said weight about said first, vertical axis thereby to rock said carrier about said second, horizontal axis.

8. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises an electric motor and selfcontained power supply means carried by said carrier for operating said motor.

9. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said hanger comprises elongated means including an upper single portion and a'lower bifurcated portion extending downwardly from said upper portion and connected to said spaced connecting means.

10. The rocking display device of claim 7 where n said hanger comprises flexible elongated means including an upper single portion and a lower bifurcated portion extending downwardly from said upper portion and connected to said spaced connecting means whereby revolution of said weight causes said carrier to rock further about a third axis through the connection of said lower portion to the upper portion of said hanger.

11. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises an electric motor and self-contained power supply means carried by said carrier for operating said motor, said power supply being disposed above the level of said second axis and said weight being disposed below the level of said second axis.

12. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said hanger means comprises a cord having a single, vertically extending upper portion and a pair of lower portions extending equiangularly downwardly from a lower end of said upper portion to said connecting means 13. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said first and second elongated elements comprise substantially rigid wires. 

1. A rocking display device comprising: a carrier; laterally spaced first and second connecting means carried by the carrier; hanger means having a first lower portion connected to said first connecting means and a second lower portion connected to said second connecting means for hanging said carrier for free rocking movement about an axis throuGh said connecting means; a weight; and means movably mounting said weight on said carrier to be disposed seriatim to opposite sides of a vertical plane defined by said axis thereby to rock the carrier about said axis.
 2. The display device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for swinging said weight about an axis substantially perpendicular to said connecting means axis.
 3. The display device of claim 1 wherein said hanger includes an upper connecting portion, said first and second lower portions having upper ends connected thereto.
 4. The display device of claim 1 wherein said hanger includes a further upper connection portion, said first and second lower portions being rigid and having upper ends connected thereto.
 5. The display device of claim 1 wherein said weight is disposed below said axis.
 6. The display device of claim 1 wherein said hanger includes means responsive to movement of said weight seriatim to extreme positions spaced in a direction parallel to said axis to cause said carrier to rock further about a second axis perpendicular to said connecting means axis.
 7. A rocking display device comprising: a hollow carrier defining a vertical, first axis; first and second connecting means carried by said carrier to be diametrically oppositely spaced from said axis; hanger means having a first elongated element connected to said first connecting means and extending upwardly therefrom, and a second elongated element connected to said second connecting means and extending upwardly therefrom for hanging said carrier for free rocking movement about a substantially horizontal, second axis through said connecting means; a weight; and means movably mounting said weight to said carrier for revolving said weight about said first, vertical axis thereby to rock said carrier about said second, horizontal axis.
 8. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises an electric motor and self-contained power supply means carried by said carrier for operating said motor.
 9. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said hanger comprises elongated means including an upper single portion and a lower bifurcated portion extending downwardly from said upper portion and connected to said spaced connecting means.
 10. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said hanger comprises flexible elongated means including an upper single portion and a lower bifurcated portion extending downwardly from said upper portion and connected to said spaced connecting means whereby revolution of said weight causes said carrier to rock further about a third axis through the connection of said lower portion to the upper portion of said hanger.
 11. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises an electric motor and self-contained power supply means carried by said carrier for operating said motor, said power supply being disposed above the level of said second axis and said weight being disposed below the level of said second axis.
 12. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said hanger means comprises a cord having a single, vertically extending upper portion and a pair of lower portions extending equiangularly downwardly from a lower end of said upper portion to said connecting means.
 13. The rocking display device of claim 7 wherein said first and second elongated elements comprise substantially rigid wires. 